It would be very easy here to dwell on the negative. Here we are, another December and still COVID looms around us. However, I would like to use this opportunity to thank and praise everyone at the Society - the Trustees, Committee Members, Volunteers, Members, supporting Microscopy, Imaging and Flow Companies, and of course all the RMS Staff for persevering through another challenging year. Thank you all for everything which has been achieved.
In spite of the restrictions, challenges and compromises, we have managed to (nearly) host our full programme of events that would normally have taken place, including mmc2021 and elmi! The Journal of Microscopy and infocus magazine continue to be produced and benefitted our members and the wider community. Our trustees, committee members and focussed interest group members have embraced the virtual meetings and continued to steer the Society and support us with our charitable objectives. The RMS office team are still largely working remotely but I am so pleased with how they have adapted and adjusted to being part of a remote team. It will be wonderful when can all be in the office together more regularly.
We would also like to extend a huge thank you to those of you who attended our virtual events and those companies that sponsored and supported these events.
With the latest Government announcements in mind, the organisers have taken the decision to move the planned hybrid and in-person meetings in January to virtual. We were so hopeful and had planned for both eventualities in the hope of being in a different position by now. Our programme of events for 2022 is looking very virtual for the first half of the year but we have our fingers crossed for the summer. Please do look at our event calendar to see what is coming up in 2022.
We are all looking forward to a break over the festive period. The RMS office will close on 23 December and we will return on 4 January 2022. If you have any questions at all during this time, please contact info@rms.org.uk, and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
Wishing you all a peaceful, restful and merry Christmas break.
With best wishes for a Happy and Healthy 2022!
Allison Winton
RMS Chief Executive
For further information and Government advice, please visit https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus